There have been many games over the years that, in their sound, look or feel, tried to recapture the spirit of early 80s arcade classics. Plenty have pulled this off to some degree, but one that does a particularly good job is Miracle’s adorably challenging jumping shooter HOP TOP.
Fashioned after classic shooters, you control Hop the dodo bird, who automatically hops up a series of platforms while firing flowers at waves of bugs attacking you from above. You can move left and right, and even jump into one side of the screen to appear out the other. But the jump arc’s consistent so take note of whether or not you’ll make the gap.
Careful maneuvering is required, not just because platforms vary in size and some will immediately collapse after a single landing, but to also avoid the different attacks dealt by the four bug types. Eeny the bluebottle fires a projectile before dive bombing down the side, Meeny the wasp homes in on you, Miny the dragonfly drops bombs whilst flying overhead, and Moe the firefly repeatedly flies into the top of the screen and up from the bottom.
The bugs take a few seconds to fly into formation and briefly linger between attacks, so you’re not constantly under assault. Still, it’s a fast-paced game as you juggle the platforms, obstacles and the enemy attacks, with waves usually lasting 15-30 seconds. They’ll go even faster if you land on a power-up platform that briefly gives you homing fireworks, explosive rockets and a double-shot. You’re encouraged to take everyone out quickly, lest you face the wrath of the massive Tiger who blocks your shots and regularly plummets towards you.
It can get overwhelming with so much going on, which isn’t helped by how easily the sprites can blend into the more complex backgrounds. But if you can get into the groove, with solid controls and straightforward mechanics pushing you to keep moving and shooting, it’s an enjoyably zen experience with just enough challenge to stay exciting. The options thankfully provide turbo fire if you need it and a high contrast mode that dims the backgrounds, along with charming borders to replicate the vibe of playing an arcade cabinet.
That arcade throwback quality even extends to the three modes available. There’s an Arcade mode that presents the game as an early-80s title focused on high scores and simple visuals. You can try a Campaign reminiscent of 90s arranged modes with more complex presentation, stage-specific obstacles, and a short but sweet storyline where you have to beat 10 waves in each of the four stages before facing a final boss, as well an Endless mode where you see how long you can last in the campaign’s stages.
The fast pace of all three modes makes HOP TOP great for jumping into, either for long sessions or quick blasts. Combine that with charmingly colorful graphics and catchy upbeat music, it’s easily worth recommending to newcomers and fans of old-school shooting games.
HOP TOP’s Steam page – https://store.steampowered.com/app/2829240/HOP_TOP/
